>how the historical mongols tanned leather.

According to Morris Rossabi, a scholar of Mongol history, the tanning process involved several steps:

• Soaking: The hides were soaked in water to remove any dirt, blood, or other impurities. This could take several days or even weeks.

• Scraping: After soaking, the hides were stretched out and scraped with a dull knife or scraper to remove the hair and flesh.

• Soaking in Alkaline Solution: The hides were then soaked in a solution of water and an alkaline substance such as lime or ash. This helped to break down the proteins in the hide and prepare it for tanning.

• Tanning: The hides were tanned using vegetable tanning, which involved soaking the hides in tannin-rich solutions made from tree bark or other plant materials. The tannins helped to bind the proteins in the hide and make it more durable and water-resistant.

• Stretching and Drying: After tanning, the hides were stretched and dried in the sun or over a fire. This helped to smooth out any wrinkles or folds in the leather and make it more pliable.

• Finishing: The finished leather could be dyed, oiled, or otherwise treated according to the needs of the Mongol craftsmen.

Source: Rossabi, Morris. "The Mongols and Global History: A Norton Casebook in History." W.W. Norton & Company, 2011.

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